Africa: Two New Candidate Vaccines to Join Ebola Trial As Treatment Research Advances

The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the inclusion of two new Ebola vaccine candidates in the ongoing Tumaini clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This marks the first time vaccines specifically designed to combat the Bundibugyo virus, responsible for the current outbreak, will be assessed during an outbreak.

The two vaccine candidates, ChAdOx1 and mRNA-1469, were recommended by WHO's independent Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritization based on preclinical and early clinical evidence. The companies were notified on Monday that their vaccines would enter the trial following national approvals. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised the scientists, health workers, and partners who have contributed to this development, emphasizing that vaccines could become a powerful tool in controlling the outbreak.

The Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, alongside various international organizations, is leading the trial, which aims to test multiple vaccine candidates using a ring-vaccination approach. This approach builds on a successful strategy employed during the West Africa Ebola outbreak, where a trial established the efficacy of Ervebo against Ebola virus.

The trial includes four vaccination rings, with more being prepared. Additionally, research into potential treatments, such as the monoclonal antibody MBP134, the antiviral remdesivir, and the antibody maftivimab, is advancing through the WHO-sponsored PARTNERS trial and complementary post-exposure prophylaxis studies.